Personalized ice cube molder



J y 1950 Y E. F. EATON 2,514,942

' v PERSONALIZED ICE cuss MOLDER Filed Au 1, 1949 INVENTOR. ELMER E EATON ATTORNEY.

Patented July 1 1 1950 FFICE i PERSONALIZED on cn'BE Momma Elmer F. Eaton, Aberdcen ,.-Md. I 1 Application August 1, 1949, Serial N 0. 107,954

2 Claims. (01. 62'.-1ll8.5.)

This invention relates to ice trays for refrigerators and more particularly to those intended for the freezing of cubes of ice therein.

The use of trays for the making of ice cubes is practically universal, and various designs have avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for molding ice cubes that will be relatively simple, inexpensive and easily handled.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, its principles and objects, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings in conjunction with the following description outline a particular form'of the invention by way of example while the claims emphasize the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the ice cube molder,

I embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 shows an ice cube formed with this invention.

Similar reference characters relate to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the particular form shown in the drawings,

. l indicates a convenional tray for the making of ice cubes in a refrigerator. It is formed with the usual depressions or compartments II in which the cubesv are formed from the freezing of the water placed therein. The material of the tray may be of metal or plastic in the ordinary manner and arranged for facile removal of the cubes in any of the well known ways, such as removal of longitudinal separator 30 and transverse separators 31. However, in order to provide special designs in the cubes, insert molds 2 [2 are made to conform with the bottoms of the depressions or compartments II, and are laid therein when intended to be used. The molds are preferably made flat for their facile removal from the tray and 0E the formed ice cubes. The bottoms Id of the insert molds if desired are embossed with the designs of various letters or initials l5 of the user so they will be formed into the cubes exteriors from water frozen in their outlines. When the cube i6 is made and removed from the tray and mold, its appearance is substantially like that shown in Figure 4. The design or letter IT is impressed in its side and shows up distinctly. The insert mold I2 is further arranged so that it may be placed either in the ordinary position at the bottom of the pan or upside down. This permits the design molded in the cube to be varied accordingly, Whether the result seems conventional or fantastic. In either case the result is deemed interesting. The slots l8 in the insert wall are for nail insertion to permit removal from the cubes. The use of a softer or more flexible plastic than ordinarily employed for the tray H] is considered desirable as the insert mold does not have to be self-supporting, and in this form is easier to remove. In the latter instance even designs that are undercut are removable Without damaging the formed outline on the cube. Where the insert mold is made to hold a liquid or fluid, it may be used to create a design of different material or color than that of the rest of the cube and laminate it integrally thereto.

By having the molds made in this insert form, they can be made to cover many intricate designs not feasible in the bottom of the trays themselves. It is more economical to make them in this manner. Further they can be applied to any tray already owned by a user and used intermittently or otherwise as he sees fit. Of course it is appreciated that the trays may be used for other purposes than making ice cubes, which include the freezing of jellies and the like therein to take the form of the cubes. The lugs 20 are provided on the bottom of the tray to permit an air space underneath the tray 10, preferably under the compartments.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An insert for ice-cube trays consisting of a flat surface having a raised embossing thereon forming a selected design, said insert being adapted to lay with its flat face on the bottom of the ice tray with its embossing extending upwardly, whereby the design will appear on the side of the ice cube formed in the tray, said fiat surface havingspaced openings therein outside the contour of the embossing to permit insertion therein of instruments to remove the insert from the ice cube with which it is associated. i

2. An insert for ice-trays as set forth in claim 1, said embossing containing a fluid of a' color different from that of the ice cube so as to form 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 200,605 Close Feb. 26, 1878 236,647 Sweeney Jan. 11, 1881 1,020,004 Wishman Mar. 12, 1912 1,516,167 Weber -1 Nov. 18, 1924 1,817,545 Copeman Aug. 4, 1931 7 2,216,127 McNaught Oct. 1, 1940 2,334,941 Linden Nov. 23, 1943 2,474,936 Elliott July 5, 1949 a colored design on the side of the ice-cube with v which it is associated.

ELMER F. EATON. 

